October 27, 2022
Wero from South Taranaki for Government seabed mining move
Māori Party co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer says the Government needs to bring its opposition to seabed mining back home.
Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today that Aoteaora New Zealand will support a conditional moratorium on deep sea mining in international waters.
The call was made because of concert the International Seabed Authority, which has oversight of the seabed beyond exclusive economic zones and extended continental shelves, won’t meet its July 2023 deadline to put in place regulations for deep sea mining.
Ms Ngarewa-Packer says her own iwi, Ngāti Ruanui and Ngā Rauru, have been in court for eight years fighting to protect their moana in South Taranaki.
She says her bill banning seabed mining is due for its first reading in Parliament next month.
The Government now has the opportunity to implement it position domestically by supporting the bill through to select committee.